S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  6214--A
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                               April 3, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of  A. GONZALEZ-ROJAS, SIMON, AUBRY, SILLITTI, RAGA,
   SEAWRIGHT, TAYLOR, SIMONE, SHIMSKY, GALLAGHER, GUNTHER,  SMITH,  McDO-
   NOUGH, HEVESI, KIM, THIELE, FORREST, SOLAGES -- read once and referred
   to  the  Committee  on  Social  Services -- committee discharged, bill
   amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said  commit-
   tee
 
 AN  ACT  to amend the social services law, in relation to establishing a
   state SNAP minimum benefit program
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1. The social services law is amended by adding a new section
 95-b to read as follows:
   § 95-B. STATE SNAP MINIMUM BENEFIT  PROGRAM.  1.  NOTWITHSTANDING  ANY
 OTHER  PROVISION  OF  LAW TO THE CONTRARY, THERE IS HEREBY ESTABLISHED A
 STATE SNAP MINIMUM BENEFIT PROGRAM. UNDER SUCH PROGRAM, THE OFFICE SHALL
 DISTRIBUTE TO EACH ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLD A MONTHLY STATE SNAP BENEFIT EQUAL
 TO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE HOUSEHOLD'S FEDERAL SNAP  MONTHLY  BENEFIT
 AND  ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS, WHICH AMOUNT MAY BE INCREASED BY THE OFFICE AS
 DEEMED APPROPRIATE AND SUBJECT TO  AVAILABLE  STATE  APPROPRIATIONS.  IF
 FEDERAL FUNDS BECOME AVAILABLE FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SUBDIVISION, THE
 OFFICE  SHALL UTILIZE SUCH FEDERAL FUNDS AS THE PRIMARY SOURCE FOR ISSU-
 ING THE MONTHLY STATE SNAP BENEFIT BEFORE STATE FUNDS, IF NECESSARY, ARE
 EXPENDED. THE STATE SNAP BENEFIT SHALL BE PROVIDED TO AN ELIGIBLE HOUSE-
 HOLD IN ADDITION TO THE FEDERAL SNAP BENEFIT.
   2. THE PROGRAM SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE SAME STATE RULES AND PROCEDURES
 FOR IMPLEMENTING THE FEDERAL  SNAP  TO  THE  GREATEST  EXTENT  POSSIBLE,
 INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, DISTRIBUTING THE STATE SNAP BENEFIT USING
 THE  PROGRAM'S  ELECTRONIC  BENEFIT  TRANSFER  SYSTEM AND REQUIRING THAT
 BENEFITS BE USED SOLELY FOR THE PURCHASE OF FOOD AS DEFINED IN 7  U.S.C.
 S.2012.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD10063-02-3
 A. 6214--A                          2
              

 
   3. THE OFFICE SHALL APPLY TO THE FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICE WITHIN THE
 FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR ANY NECESSARY WAIVERS OR APPROVALS
 TO IMPLEMENT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION.
   4. AS USED IN THIS SECTION:
   (A)  "ELIGIBLE  HOUSEHOLD"  MEANS  A  HOUSEHOLD  THAT  IS CERTIFIED TO
 RECEIVE A FEDERAL SNAP BENEFIT OF AT LEAST ONE DOLLAR PER MONTH BUT LESS
 THAN ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS PER MONTH, OR A LARGER AMOUNT AS DEEMED  APPRO-
 PRIATE  BY  THE  OFFICE  PURSUANT  TO  SUBDIVISION  ONE OF THIS SECTION,
 SUBJECT TO AVAILABLE STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDS.
   (B) "SNAP" MEANS THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM  ESTAB-
 LISHED PURSUANT TO SECTION NINETY-FIVE OF THIS TITLE.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.